The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-06

first in war, first in peace and first in
the hearts of his countrymen."
didn't say much more goin' up
the steps; not that wuz put to it
for emotions, not at all, but my breath
had gin out long before L got half
way up.
But at last the steep assent wuz
climbed, and we stood in the lofty
marble halls where justice aud other
things were administered to us. My
feelin's was powerful, but controll-
ed 'em with almost marble firmness,
for [ felt that l mustn't give way be-
fore O'Clock in the mornin' when so
much wuz ahead of me. And anon,
after roaming through lofty and ma
jestical corridors, as far, / should
jndge, as from our house to James,
vile, stood in the rotunda, that
wonderful rooms a lookin' up in deep
amuze and dumbfounder, up, up past
the statues and pictures, and alto and
other r3liefs, up, up, into the high
heavens of light that shine down
through the many colors, [ was fair
ly lost in contemplating the loftiness
and graddeur. and l don't care who
knows it. And before | wuz found
my companion had discovered sun
thin very mysterious. 1t was kind
| of a n M Ctn
a certain piece of marble floor, and
man way out in front of YOU will
speak to you and the voice will seem
to come from right behind you, clost
to you. They say it was caused by
some accustik property.
And sed didn't know anything
about the gentleman or how much
property he owned. But says I, If
he wants to sell any of this property
and don't ask TOO much | would be
glad to buy little, it would be so
handy for pardners to have some~
times when they were far off from
their companions and want to whis-
per in still small voice in their ear
and speak to 'em sudden sometimes,
unbeknown to 'em.'
Josiah looked kinder angry, he
didn't fall in with my idea OF pur-
chasing any of Mr.. Acoustics proper.
ty. And the man didn't make much
of any answer. spose they want to
keep all their luxuries and necessities
, right there in the Capital, and l spose
the wives of public men need 'em as
much if not more than do, and Jo-
siah looked very oneasy, so l didn't
say no more, and, after feasting our
eyes again on the pictures and alto
) relief that was ornamenting the walls
on every side, we almost tore our
f selves away and wandered out in the
other rooms, We went into rooms
full and running over with books.
They were piled up on shelves and
on the floors and up overhead and in
every place you can think on. and
the man in charge IA perpect gentle
man) he said they were going to
have new house to put 'em in.
And says: 1T must be a good
sized one."
"Oh. yes" says he. "It is going
to be quite building" And L see
, for myself afterwards. Why, besides
, acres of vacant land, they have tore
down good houses-as many houses
, as there is in Janesville-to make
room for that buidin' to stand on.
Why, don't spose you will believe
me, it is goin to sperad as fur as from
our house clear over to old Grant
; Vicleson'S aGrost to Alminy Hagi-
done's and so around back to our
, house again. It's goin' to be sight
to behold and built of bricks. Why,
streets are goin' right under it-have
o got to, if they 60 at all-it is goin' to
to be that immense. Good land,
good land, the idee ont.
Wall, we wandered round into 9TH
er lofty rooms where justice land 9TH
: er things) are administered to US.
: And after travelin' through wide
halls and rooms-every one ON 'em
nobler lookin' than the last one; af-
2 ter goin'-as fur as we calculated as
b from our house to Janesville and half
{ way back agin-we at last found our
selves on the peaceful street in front
of this stupendous and magnificent
u buildin'.
5 And then my pardner proposed
0 that we should go and see the Smith
: sonIan Institute.
And l seys: "I am ready, Josiah
= Allen, for if there is a man on the
, face of the earth that | honor it is
, Mr.. Smithsonian"
: And our adventures there will re-
o late in another epistol.
JOSIAH ALIENS WIFE.